The document outlines progress on Pillar 4 of a Global Soil Information System plan of action. It discusses the establishment of an International Network of Soil Information Institutions to develop and maintain a Global Soil Spatial Data Infrastructure and Global Soil Information System. Near term deliverables include launching a SoilSTAT concept for monitoring soils, developing web platforms and data standards, and convening working groups to begin producing global soil maps, profiles and grids. Execution of the Pillar 4 Implementation Plan is seen as crucial to generating the next State of the World's Soil Resources report and monitoring soils for sustainable development goals.

1. Progress in the implementation of
the endorsed Plans of Actions
Pillar 4 – Information and Data

2. Background
• Pillar 4 Plan of Action (2nd PA, 2014)
Establishment of the
Global Soil Information
System

3. Process
• Pillar 4 Implementation Plan (developed by a working group,
December 2014 – February 2016).
• Draft presented at the workshop “International Network of Soil
Information Institutions (INSII)” December 2015.
• After the workshop, two more iterations and plan was finally
endorsed by WG and INSII participants.

4. Structure of the P4IP

5. International Network of Soil
Information Institutions (INSII)
Global Soil
Spatial Data
Infrastructure
Centre
(GSSDIC)
Pillar 4 Working
Group
SoilSTAT
Our target: Global Soil Information System
Members: regional
partnerships, ITPS, GSP
secretariat, Pillar 5
based on an
open call
monitoring and
component of
FAOStats family

6. Deliverables
Soil Polygon map
 SoilSTAT concept
Soil profiles
 Data overview
 Web platform and portal
 Tier 1 data base
 Tier 2 specifications
 Copyright/data use policy
 Code of ethics
 Capacity development programme
2016
SoilSTAT
Soil grids
 Tier 1 (continued)
 Tier 2 data base
2017 +
 Specifications
 SOTER mapping and
data exchange
 HWSD Specifications
 Proof-of-concept (PoC)
 HWSD final product
 Grid v0: data overview
 Web portal and PoC
 v0 gridded product
 Grid v1: specifications
and data

7. Execution of the Pillar 4 IP is crucial
 New version of the Status of the World‘s Soil
Resources report (planned for 2020).
 Report and monitor impacts from Sustainable
Soil Management interventions
 Support the SDG process, especially in relation
to indicators.
 Monitor soil functions: soil carbon
sequestration

8. Guidance from PA
• Encourage national soil institutions to join INSII.
• Commitment from national soil institutions to support the
necessary actions to establish the Global Soil Information
Systems.
• Provision of financial and technical resources to execute
P4IP.
• Invest on developing national soil information systems.
• Support for implementing an aggressive capacity
development programme on soil information/mapping.

9. Execution of P4IP: immediate steps
• Directly after 4th PA: open call for GSSDIC
• Meeting of the P4WG
• July-August 2016: 2nd Meeting of INSII
• P4WG has 12 tasks, of which are 5 of high priority in 2016
(e.g. preparation of product specifications).
• Execution of first activities, e.g. update of HWSD, etc.